Graham
Revitalization Economic
Action Team
Minutes
Location:
Robbinsville Elementary Auditorium
Welcome/Introductions
A.
Rick
welcomed everyone to the meeting, expressed thanks to Nan and Pop’s Kitchen
for catering and introduced the Board of Directors, called the meeting to order
and introduced Claudie Burchfield to facilitate the meeting.
General
Items
A.
Approval
of Minutes of Previous Meeting: Motion was made for approval by Lynn Shields,
seconded by Rhonda Anderson.
B.
Approval
of the Agenda:
The agenda was approved on a motion by Rhonda Anderson and a second by
Lynn Shields.
Business
Items
A.
Financial Report – Lynn Shields presented the financial
report (attached).
B.
GREAT Board of Directors for 2011 – Rick
presented the list of the current Board of Directors and proposed new members
for the Board of Directors. The Board was approved with a motion by Beverly
Whitehead, seconded by Mike Harwood.
Public Discussion/Input –
A.
Overview of GREAT Strategic Plan, Committee
Structure, and 2010 Priorities –Rick
directed the group to the packet provided (attached) and gave an overview of the
above information.
B.
Review of Committee Priorities and Accomplishments
- Each
committee presented a report of goals, accomplishments to date, and then asked
for ideas from meeting attendees. After each committee report, the group was
given time to write suggestions for that committee on note cards. These note
cards were collected by the 4-H Youth Leadership Group and transcribed to large
flip-chart paper per committee.
Ø
Economic
Development, Business and Industry – Claudie Burchfield
Claudie
highlighted this committee’s new partnership with Handmade in America’s
Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). AWE was welcomed this year as a
subcommittee of the Economic Development, Business and Industry Committee.
She also spoke to the tourism survey developed by the committee, the
establishment of the Graham County Economic Development Commission, and
emphasized the importance of travel and tourism for economic development.
Ø
Education
and Workforce Development –Rhonda Anderson
Rhonda
highlighted the accomplishments of this committed listed below.
·
21st
Century Learning Center Grant for $150,000
·
Alcoa
Foundation Project ESTEME for $28,050 to engage girls in grades 6-9 in math and
science careers
·
American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds through the NC Energy Office to improve
lighting , install occupancy sensors in bathrooms and hallways, and upgrade
heating and air conditioning controls -$199,380
·
Kate
B Reynolds Charitable Trust – three year grant to support substance abuse and
mental health services for low-income students - $199,798
Jim
Mize spoke about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. There are currently 310
children enrolled, and 59 have graduated. The program received $7,943 in
donation this year and will be working to get more younger children enrolled in
the next year.
Rick
Parham spoke about the nearing completion of the house being built by the
construction technology class.
Ø
Tourism
and Mountain Culture – Lynn Shields
·
Lynn
referred the group to the highlighted accomplishments in the handouts and added
that Blue Ridge National Heritage Arts has awarded Stecoah Valley Center $22,000
for expansion of all classes in textiles, other arts, and food and $4,000 for
development of marketing materials/ brochures for the Graham County Quilt Trail.
·
Stecoah
Valley Center also received $25,000 from the NC Rural Center and $15,000 from
the NC Arts Council to develop architectural plans for the renovation of the
former Stecoah School Gym. They gym could then be used for recreation, tourism
events, outdoor industry trade shows, banquets, conventions, etc.
·
The
committee submitted 7 proposals to Golden Leaf Foundation for funding. Results
will be announced in Feb-March.
·
The
committee has been working on developing a strategic plan for travel and tourism
and has identified needs for eco-tourism planning, motorized tourism planning,
and off-season tourism planning.
Ø
Revitalization
and Infrastructure – Rick Davis
·
Rick
highlighted the NC Rural Center’s NCSTEP program that the Town of Robbinsville
was chosen to participate in. Brenda Artiss told the group the activities that
will be going onto identify projects, spoke about the importance of the
charrette that will being created, and announced that the group had received 3
grants for the project and has applied for Golden Leaf funding.
·
Rick
also spoke about the importance of high-speed internet access for the county.
The county is currently at 70% for access to high-speed internet. A $500,000
proposal has been submitted to Golden Leaf Foundation to increase this number.
Ø
Recreation,
Natural Resources and Water Quality – Rick Davis (for Michael Wiggins)
·
Rick
discussed the Recreation Master Plan being developed and the Partners of Joyce
Kilmer had been added as a subcommittee of the Recreation Committee.
·
Lauren
Stull with the USFS spoke about an upcoming event planned by the USFS. The
Partners of Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness will be celebrating the 75th
anniversary of the dedication of Joyce Kilmer.
The event will be at Rattler Ford Campground on Saturday, July 30th.
The USFS will be hosting a 5K/10K race, several wilderness exhibits, a
re-dedication ceremony, and an open house for former USFS employees.
Ø
Leadership
and Government – Mike Harwood
Mike
reported that the Leadership and Government committee had re-worked its goals
this past year. Those goals are to:
·
Support
comprehensive planning processes
·
Increase
regional collaboration
·
Establish
a leadership development program
·
Encourage
local leaders/government to attend trainings
·
Support
KORT youth leadership
Ø
Health
and Social – Kristen Shuler (for Alicia Parham)
Kristen
presented the 2010 State of the County Health (SOTCH) Report to the group,
discussing the Community Health Assessment (CHA) and SOTCH processes, local
data, and the priorities of the health and social committee. The priorites are:
·
Family
Fitness - the playground installation is complete and the group is working with
Graham County Recreation on a Recreation Master Plan. A grand opening for the
playground will be held in conjundtion with the annual Ramp Festival on May 1st
from 1-4pm. This will also be the kick-off to a Spring fitness challenge that
will draw attention to local recreation resources, walking routes and
hiking/biking trails. There will be a one day event, followed by a longer
physical activity challenge involving geocaching. Kristen explained geocaching
to the group in response to a question about what it was.
·
Access
to Health – The Board of Directors for the Graham County Free Clinic has been
established and an office manager and provider have been hired. Pediatric Sick
Care has been introduced in Graham County this year by way of a partnership
between Graham County Public Health and Sylva Pediatrics.
Mental
Health services have expanded through the School Based Health Center into
elementary school this year and the School Based Health Center was maintained.
C.
Identification of 2011 Priorities – 4-H
youth leadership members place one large flip chart piece of paper on the walls
for each committee, displaying the suggestions for priorities for the 2011 year.
Attendees were instructed to vote for their top 5 priorities for the coming
year. Votes will be tallied and results announced at the next meeting.
D.
Sandy
Zimmerman, Representative, Congressman Heath Shuler’s Office – Sandy
Zimmerman gave updates on small business initiatives supported by Mr. Shuler’s
office.
Announcements
Ø
GREAT
Board of Directors Meeting – February 14, 2011
Ø
GREAT
Meeting March 17, 2011 at Fontana Village
Adjourn